Robbery, police standoff in Greenwood

Posted by Meghan Walker on January 22nd, 2013

SWAT and police negotiators responded to a strange call yesterday evening which resulted in the arrest of an 20-year-old man after a brief standoff.

Just before 6:00 pm, officers responded to the 200 Block of N. 85th Street for a call of a 17-year-old girl being held against her will in an apartment by a man with a gun. This was a follow up to a reported robbery that occurred the day before in the 9200 Block of Greenwood Avenue North.

On Sunday, shortly after 3:00 pm, the female victim was at her apartment on Greenwood when a friend of hers asked to come over.

The 20-year-old man brought an unknown male with him and the three visited for a while in the apartment. As the two men were getting ready to leave, the unknown male pulled out a gun and demanded that she hand over cash. As the suspect was pulling out the gun, the victim stated that the gun went off. There were no injuries. The victim handed over the money and the two suspects left. The victim called 911 and North Precinct officers responded to investigate. The suspects were not located, although officers received information on the friend and there was probable cause to arrest for robbery.

On Monday, just before 6:00 pm, a friend of the victim called 911 to report that her friend, the victim, was inside the apartment in the 200 Block of N. 85th, being held by the 20-year-old suspect. The complainant reported that she and the victim had been texting each other, and that the victim told her via text that the suspect was in the apartment with her, armed with a gun, and she could not leave.

Officers responded to the location and set up containment. Because this was a potential armed, barricaded situation, SWAT and negotiators were called to the scene. After a short standoff, the 20-year-old suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Officers interviewed the victim later. She stated that the suspect had come over to that location earlier in the day and that they had been hanging out for several hours. When the victim’s friends came over and knocked on the door, the suspect told the victim not to open the door or she would go to jail. The suspect told the victim he had a gun, although the victim never actually saw one. That is when she began texting her friend who later called 911.

No gun was located at the scene. There were no injuries.

The 20-year-old suspect was later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery from the Sunday incident, and Investigation of Unlawful Imprisonment.

Update 8:56 p.m.: Seattle Police Det. Mark Jamieson tells me that officers responded to an apartment above Gorditos restaurant around 6:30 tonight, after receiving a report that a woman was being held against her will by a man armed with a gun. Det. Jamieson said there may have been a second suspect; SWAT teams were still clearing the apartment and trying to sort out a very confusing situation.

SWAT teams and hostage negotiators were called in, and everyone eventually came out of the apartment. The 18-year-old male suspect was taken into custody; the female victim (age unknown right now) was unhurt.

Thank you to Silver for the voicemail, texts and Forum updates, and for many other people who emailed tips and posted info in the Forum!

Update 8:48 p.m.: I just spoke with SPD. Details in just a moment…

Update 8:30 p.m.: Silver writes in the Forum that she heard on the scanner the suspect is in custody. And SPD tweeted at 8:40 p.m.: “Suspect in custody, SWAT clearing apartment now, more info later.”

Earlier: We’re hearing reports of a major police response to 85th and Greenwood. Several PhinneyWood readers have told us they’ve seen numerous police cars and SWAT vans in the area.

Seattle Police tweeted that it’s a barricade situation in the 200 block of North 85th Street, and that both SWAT teams and negotiators are on the scene. North 85th Street is closed between Greenwood Avenue North and 3rd Avenue NW.

Our scanner tipster, Silver, and several other people are posting up-to-the-second updates in the Forum.